Batik in Bali

Six weeks in creative heaven!

I fell in love with Bali on my first visit there three years ago. So when I had the chance to make a second visit, I didn’t need much persuading; it’s an artist’s heaven.

For those of you who have never visited Bali, I am based in an area called Ubud and it’s April 2019. It is known as a centre for traditional arts, crafts and dance amongst the many terraced rice paddies. But if you get out of the bustling town, you will be surrounded by rainforest , dotted with Hindu temples and beautiful gardens. The deliciously fresh, local food is ridiculously cheap and enchanting homestay accommodation is fantastic. The Balinese are friendly and very welcoming – who wouldn’t want to return as I have!

Meditatiing on the beach with Herbert the Hare

This time, rather than a short holiday I decided to come for almost 6 weeks and while here I have been doing a lot of sight-seeing with friends who live here but my main aim was to do creative work. Followers on Facebook and Instagram will have seen Herbert the Hare on my posts. He’s the needle felted hare I made to accompany me on my travels.

Studying with the masters

My Feltworld – Creative Art Courses include several different courses based on wet felting and needle felting, and also Batik, which is a beautiful way to create designs on pieces of cloth. So this time in Bali I’m sharing my knowledge of feltmaking, which isn’t so common here, while at the same time taking masterclasses in Batik. Indonesia is one of the centres of Batik excellence, so the chance to study with some of the great Batik experts is not to be missed.

Batik, for those of you not familiar with the technique, involves making marks on cloth using hot wax with a tool called a tjanting. The Tjanting holds heated wax, and a short tube slowly releases it when drawn onto the fabric. This is a skill that takes a little practice but I run classes for beginners which are very popular, and the technique is surprisingly easy to pick up. Dyes are then used to add colour to your design. The wax is removed from the cloth leaving incredible, unique artwork that can be used as wall art, or made into cushions, and bags or clothing to name a few items. Click here to see Batik courses: https://www.feltworld.co.uk/batik-painting

The finished batik

Creative learning

I’m also exploring organic eco printing, a technique I had touched on previously and was excited to purchase natural dyes and bring some 100% cotton fabric home with me. As an artist it is important to me to try new techniques and keep on learning; I am currently experimenting with incorporating felt with batik and discovering how the two natural fibres react when combined. Being surrounded by artists in a creative community is so inspiring.

Eco-printing is great fun

I have spent 4 hours a day working on marketing, social media and writing articles as running a creative business doesn’t stop when you are away. My time in Bali, has been transformative, and a fantastic experience. Frankly – for me, it is creative heaven and just what I needed to keep my creative mojo alive! I will definitely visit Bali again.

Still working, even if the “office” location has changed!

If you’re curious about felt making or batik, do visit my website or look me up on Facebook and Instagram
www.feltworld.co.uk
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